VENEER RECOVERY FROM ACACIA MANGIUM

摘要

Today, the trend of obtaining timber from natural stand has decreases as consumer realizes that environmental safety and protection is important for sustaining a balance world conditions, not only for today but also for the future. Due to the increasing demand and shortage of timber supply, an alternative solution has been implemented in order to control this situation. One of the steps is by encouraging plantation program of timber species so that a continuous supply of timber can be obtained for a long duration of time. In Malaysia, Acacia mangium has been selected as one of the timber species for the plantation programs. Through this reason, a study on obtaining veneer recovery estimation of A. mangiun of 15 years old was conducted for future utilization. For the purpose of the study, ten selected logs of A. mangium were obtained from plantation area in Kemasul, Mentakab, Pahang. The logs were peeled into veneers at HK Lamtech, Sungai Petani, Kedah. Thirty-one veneers were evaluated. The mean recovery for veneer obtained from the ten round-up billets was 46.39%, while the highest veneers recovery from the round-up billets was 88.63%. Further, the veneer recovery from the logs was estimated to be 58.74%. All the veneers had slight end-waviness and had end-splitting during drying. The thickness of dried veneers was 2.05 mm, which was dried down to 10-12% MC about five hours at temperature of 50-60℃. The tangential shrinkage of A. mangium veneers was found to be 4.22% while the radial shrinkage was 2.75%. Through the study was conducted, it can be mentioned that veneer recovery of A. mangium is moderately high. Even though, the amount will not attract those who are concern more on profit over volume, maybe by looking this in the term of aesthetic value. A. mangium veneer may posses an attractive grain pattern and textures, which will hope to boost up some interest from the manufacturer on utilizing this timber.